Randolph's Kral trying to make the most of limited opportunities

Rob Kral thought he had finally broken through. After an outstanding 2013 season including a spot on the California League All-Star team, the catcher from Randolph believed his place in the San Diego Padres' organization was finally secure.

Instead, Kral is fighting for playing time with Austin Hedges and Jason Hagerty with Double-A San Antonio.

Hedges, the best defensive catcher in the Padres organization and overall No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America, is the unquestioned starter behind the plate. Hagerty, the catcher in Triple-A last season, moved down and picked up most of the at-bats at designated hitter which Kral had previously snagged.

"When you're in a situation like mine … one breakout year isn't going to bring you above (Hedges)," Kral said. "It's disappointing, but that's the way it was always going to be. Even out of college, it would be a grind from Day One. I hope, at least, the organization hasn't thought any less of me."

Kral, 25, got a chance to play full-time at Class-A Lake Elsinore last summer when Hedges was sidelined by injury, and made the most of it. He hit .286 with 16 doubles, five triples, 13 homers and 45 RBI, and was named the starting catcher in the Class-A All-Star Game. Kral caught a runner trying to steal second in the first inning, and hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the third of a 12-2 loss.

Kral got on base in every game he played in June 2013, and was promoted on July 8. Teammates again, Hedges and Kral talk strategy — and Kral has picked up some technical fine points from the 21-year-old former second-round pick.

"Being able to watch him every day, the way he does things — receiving, blocking, throwing — you pick up on things," said Kral, who was drafted in the 10th round out of the College of Charleston in 2011.

"You try and mimic some things, or ask him what he thinks about when he's doing certain motions, and how the form is. You pick up on that stuff, and I think it's helped me tremendously. This is the best I've caught in my entire life, based on things I see and talk to him about, because he's so advanced in that stage of the game."

Kral usually practices in the bullpen, warming up pitchers both before and during games. Though his defense behind the plate has improved, comfort at the plate has waned.

Kral, a 5-foot-10 lefty, has just a .189 batting average with seven doubles, three homers, and 14 RBI in only 127 plate appearances. But Missions manager Rich Dauer admires his attitude.

San Antonio leads the Texas League South early in the second half of the season.

"He'd be considered one of our elite characters," said Dauer, a Baltimore Orioles second baseman from 1976 to 1985. "He brings a lot of chemistry into the clubhouse. … I'll bet Robert by himself has won four or five games for us, with the limited time he played. He's a direct result of helping us win. Those are valuable players for us too."